Commercial laundry machine

ABSTRACT

A commercial laundry machine includes two spaced end frames supporting a generally cylindrical washer casing for rotation around its central axis. A casing door supported by the frame is movable to a closed position against the casing during washing operations and to a remote position spaced from the casing for loading and unloading of laundry. Fluid is introduced into the casing through a conduit in the casing door. Fluid from the casing is discharged from discharge valves into discharge conduits on the casing extending laterally to empty into fixed chutes supported by the end frames.

United States Patent [191 Toth COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY MACHINE [75 Inventor: Alex Toth, Lincolnwood, Ill. [73] Assignee: Ellis Corporation, Chicago, Ill. [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 169,376

[52] US. Cl. 68/210 [51] Int. Cl. D061 39/14 [58] Field of Search 68/210, 139

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,058,330 10/1962 Grantham 68/210 X 3,328,984 7/1967 Lowes 68/210 X 3,640,104 2/1972 Lutzen 68/210 FOREIGN PATENTS v OR APPLICATIONS 276,394 10/1965 Australia.... .L 68/210 [451 Aug. 14, 1973 841,570 2/1939 France 68/210 Primary Examiner-William I. Price Attorney-Richard D. Wyss, Philip M. Kolehmainen et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A commercial laundry machine includes two spaced end frames supporting a generally cylindrical washer casing for rotation around its central axis. A casing door supported by the frame is movable to a closed position against the casing during washing operations and to a remote position spaced from the casing for loading and unloading of laundry. Fluid is introduced into the casing through a conduit in the casing door. Fluid from the casing is discharged from discharge valves into discharge conduits on the casing extending laterally to empty into fixed chutes supported by the end frames.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures lleoeeeee n uen can PAIENIED AUG 1 4:915

SHEH 1 [If 5 INVENTOR:

ALEX 70TH A ORNFYS Arammw :a'.7s1.s41

SHEET 5 OF 5 FIG. .9

INVENTOR ALEX 70TH BY Wm, KM

A ORNE Y5 ll COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY MACHINE The present invention relates to improvements in commercial laundry apparatus. I

A widely used type of laundry machine for commercial, industrial and similar installations includes an outer cylindrical casing for containing washing fluids during laundry operations. A laundry load may be held in an inner cylinder capable of independent rotation within the casing. The laundry is introduced into the machine through doors in the casing and cylinder which are aligned and opened. After washing the load is unloaded by pivoting or by rotating the casing and cylinder to a position wherein the door openings are disposed at or near the lower part of the casing.

Traditionally the casing door has been supported on the casing itself by slide members, hinges or the like. Thus the door in its open position has made more difficult or interfered with the movement of the casing to its unloading position. Moreover manual opening of the casing doors has been required. The resulting effect of this traditional arrangement has been to prevent effective automated or semi-automatic operation of the washer.

Other difficulties encountered with present commercial washers are related to the systems for channeling washing fluids to and from the casing. Fluids are usually supplied from a supply header on one end frame to a central area along the casing for distribution by a manifold or conduit carried by the casing wall. This approach obstructs the region adjacent the casing and also interferes with movement of the casing between loading, washing and unloading positions.

In removing fluids from the casing, one or more discharge valves are located on the casing and are spaced from the ends of the casing to provide even discharge flow. Normally the valves discharge fluids directly below the casing into a floor gutter or the like. This provides an undesirable obstacle in the region below the washer and hinders the movement of laundry carts or other laundry receiving devices beneath the machine. Although a movable chute structure has been proposed to overcome this difficulty, it would be desirable to provide a discharge arrangement requiring no movable structure fixed to the washer frame.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an improved commercial laundry machine; to provide a machine having an improved door structure minimizing interference with loading and unloading of the washer; to provide a novel fluid supply system; and to provide an improved system for discharging fluids from the washer.

In brief, in accordance with the above and other objects of the invention there is provided an improved commercial laundry machine in the form of a washer including spaced end frames supporting a cylindrical casing for rotation about its central axis. A door opening in the casing wall permits the loading and unloading oflaundry when the opening is disposed respectively at the top and bottom of the casing. The casing is rotated to a predetermined position to carry out a washing operation, and in this position the door opening is adjacent the top of the casing and one or more fluid discharge valves are adjacent the bottom of the casing.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a door for closing the casing door opening is movably mounted on the machine frame. When the casing is in the washing position, the door is moved relative to the casing into the closed position where it engages the casing and closes the door opening. In order to permit loading or movement of the casing, the door is moved away from the door opening relative to the frame to a remote, out of the way position spaced from the casing.

Fluid is supplied to the casing from a supply header or the like associated with one end frame. In accordance with a feature of the invention, a washing fluid delivery conduit is associated with the movable door and extends from an inlet near the end frame for introducing fluids into the casing. A movable fluid coupling mounted on the end frame is releasably engageable with the inlet when the casing is in the washing position and when the door is in the closed position.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of fluid discharge means of simple construction arranged to avoid the obstruction of the region beneath the machine. Each discharge valve communicates with a discharge conduit mounted on the casing. A fixed discharge chute mounted to an end frame at the side of the machine is aligned with the discharge conduit when the casing is in the washing position, and serves to channel fluid from the casing to a floor drain or the like located well to the side of the laundry unloading area.

The invention together with the above and other objects and advantages may be better understood with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a commercial washer constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the washer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a side elevational view, taken from the left end as viewed in FIG. I, of the washer of FIG. I;

FIG. ll is a side elevational view, taken-from the right end as viewed in FIG. ll, of the washer of FIG. ll;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic and simplified vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. I and illustrating certain components of the washer in position for loading laundry into the washer;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the position of components during a washing operation;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the position of components for unloading of laundry;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partly sectional top view of the casing, casing door and right end frame of the washer of FIG. I taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. I illustrating the'washing fluid connection and door structure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3 and illustrating one of the discharge valves of the washer; and

FIG. l d is an enlarged sectional view of the casing door taken on the line NIP-III of FIG. 8.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is illustrated a commercial laundry apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated as a whole by the reference numeral 20. In the illustrated arrangement the apparatus 29 com prises a commercial washer, but it should be understood that principles of the invention may be applicable as well to other devices such as washer extractors and the like.

In general, the washer 2% includes a cylindrical washer casing 22 mounted for rotation about its central axis between a left end frame 24 and a right end frame 26. The casing 22 is provided with a door designated as a whole by the reference numeral 28. The door is moved between opened and closed positions in accordance with a feature of the invention by means of a novel door operating structure generally designated as 30. Washing fluids for carrying out a washing operation are supplied to the interior of the casing by means of a fluid supply system of novel construction generally designated as 32. Fluids are removed from the casing during and after a washing operation by means of a novel fluid discharge system generally designated as 34.

Referring more specifically to the structure of the washer 20, the casing 22 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a generally cylindrical side wall 36 and a pair of end walls 38 and 40 disposed adjacent the end frames 24 and 26. A pair of trunnion structures 42 mount the casing 22 on the frames 24 and 26 and furthermore permit rotation of the casing about its central longitudinal axis defined by the trunnions.

In order to support a laundry load within the washer, the casing 22 encloses an inner cylinder 44 which may also be of circular cylindrical shape. Cylinder 44 includes a side wall 46 provided with perforations 48 (FIG. 1) serving to enclose the laundry load within the cylinder while permitting free communication of washing fluids with the laundry. Cylinder 44 may include end walls (not shown) as well as one or more interior walls 50 (FIG. I) subdividing the machine into separate portions. For example, the machine 20 illustrated in the present application includes two separated washing chambers.

As can best be seen in FIGS. -7, the casing side wall 36 is formed with a door opening 52, and the side wall 46 of the cylinder 44 is provided with one or more similar door openings 54. These door openings are preferably of substantial circumferential width in order to permit the rapid loading and unloading of loads of laundry. While the casing door opening 52 is preferably a single opening extending substantially throughout the length of the casing 22, the inner cylinder may be provided with a separate door 54 for each of its interior compartments.

During a washing operation, the casing door opening 22 is closed by the casing door 28, and similarly the cylinder door opening or openings 54 is closed by a cylinder door 56. For loading or unloading of laundry, the casing door 28 is moved to an open position by the novel door operating structure 30 of the present invention. The cylinder door 54 is moved to an open position in conventional manner as by unlatching and movement along suitable slide members or the like (not shown). In order to agitate the laundry load during washing,-the cylinder side wall 46 and the door 54 are provided with projections 57. In order to facilitate unloading of laundry into carts or other structure located beneath the casing 22, the frames 24 and 26 are of substantial height and the casing 22 is supported well above the underlying floor surface. For convenient access to the casing, there is provided a platform structure 58 including stairs 60 and a guard rail 62.

Rotation is imparted to the casing 22 and the cylinder 44 by a suitable drive arrangement (not shown) coupled between the trunnions 42 and a pair of motor assemblies 64 mounted on both of the end frames 24 and 26. The drive system is controllable by a suitable control means so that the casing 22 can selectively be rotated together with the cylinder 44 or alternatively can be fixed to the frames 24 and 26 and thus held stationary during rotation of the cylinder 44.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the novel door 28 and door operating structure 30. In known constructions the casing door is typically hinged to or otherwise carried by the casing wall for movement manually between closed and open positions. In the arrangement of the present invention the door is not connected to the casing wall but rather is mounted with respect to the end frames 24 and 26 for movement by the operating structure 30 between closed and open positions. Thus when the door is open, it is not connected to the casing in any manner and therefore does not interfere with or obstruct loading or unloading of laundry or movement of the casing between positions.

More specifically, the door 28 includes a continuous sealing flange surrounding an inwardly offset wall portion 72. The door opening 52 of the casing 22 is defined by an upwardly extending rim 74 supported by a series of strengthening webs 76. When the door is in its closed position (FIG. 6) the flange 70 rests against the top of the rim 74, and the offset wall 72 is received within the rim 74 in order to provide effective closing of the door opening 52.

In accordance with the invention, the door operating structure 30 includes a laterally slidable carriage structure generally designated as 78 capable of horizontal sliding movement with respect to the frame of the washer 20. In addition the door 28 is mounted to the carriage 78 for vertical movement with respect thereto. As a result, the door may be moved from its closed position by, first, a vertical movement of the door upwardly away from the casing 22 and, second, by movement of the carriage and the door horizontally to an open position (FIGS. 5 and 7) wherein the door is spaced well away from the casing 22.

More specifically, both the left end frame 24 and the right end frame 26 are provided with a channel slide member 80 extending from a region above the casing 22 to a region spaced well to the rear of the washer 20. The carriage 78 includes a channel shaped main support 82 extending transversely between the spaced slide members 80. The ends of the member 82 are connected to cross pieces 84 each being parallel to and adjacent one of the slide members 80. Struts 86 strengthen the connections between the main member 82 and the cross pieces 84. Each cross piece 84 carries a pair of rollers 88 freely rollable along the slide members 80 to permit free horizontal movement of the carriage 78.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the door 28 is carried by the carriage 78 in a manner permitting vertical movement of the door with respect to the carriage. More specifically, the main member 82 of the carriage is provided with a pair of tubular sleeves 90 within which are freely slidable a pair of pins 92 fixed to the door 28.

In order to control the movement of the door between its closed and opened positions, there is provided a first power member 94 for selectively sliding the carriage 78 horizontally between its positions, and a second power member 96 for vertically raising and lowering the door 28 with respect to the carriage 78. The power member 94 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a pneumatic cylinder fixed to one of the slide members 80 by a pin connection 98. A piston 100 of the cylinder is coupled by a pin connection 182 to an intermediate point along an operating lever 104. Lever 184 (FIG. 2) is connected at one end by a pin connection 106 to the slide member 80 and at the other end by a pin connection 108 to a slide 1K0 mounted upon a slide rod ll2'attached to the main member 82 of the carriage 78. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and S-7, the second power member 96 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a cylinder having its cylinder portion attached to the main member 82 of the carriage 78 and having a piston 114 fixed to the structure of the door 28.

Suitable programmable control means or other desired control arrangements may be used for pressurizing the pneumatic cylinders 94 and 96 in order automatically to control the position of the door 28. During a washing operation with the washer 28, the door is placed in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 6. In order to free the casing for unencumbered rotation in order to carry out an unloading operation (FIG. 7), or in order to open the door opening 52 for a loading operation (FIG. 5), the door 28 is moved to its open position. In order to carry out this movement, pressure is supplied to the second power member 96 in order to raise the door toward the carriage 78. Once the door has been raised so that the offset wall portion 72 is clear of the door opening rim 74, the operating cylinder 94 is pressurized in order to extend its piston 100 thus to cause the operating lever 104 to slide the carriage 78 toward the rear of the machine. In the open position as may be seen in FIG. 5 the door opening 52 is entirely unobstructed and moreover rotation of the casing 22 between positions is not hindered. The door may be returned to its closed position by the reverse process in which the piston 100 of the cylinder 94 is first retracted and thereafter the cylinder 96 is released to lower the door into position.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the novel fluid supply system 32 for introducing washing fluids to the interior of the casing 22 in order to carry out washing operations. Such washing fluids customarily include a mixture of hot and cold water together with other materials such as soap, blue'ing, bleach, sour, starch and the like. These materials are provided through hot and cold water inlets 128 and 122 and a supply header 124 including a series of pneumatically operated valves 126 for selectively admitting various materials. The hot and cold water and additive materials are mixed together in an inlet fitting 128 supported on the right end frame 26.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, fluids are communicated to the interior of the casing 22 by a supply conduit associated with the door 28 rather than with the casing wall as is the usual case. As a result of this novel arrangement, the supply conduit is removed from the casing 22 when the door is moved to its open position and thus does not hinder movement of the easing nor add to its weight. Accordingly, there is provided an improved very simple and convenient structure for adding fluids to the casing 22.

More specifically, and referring now to FIGS. 8 and 10, it can be seen that the door 28 is provided with a fluid supply conduit 130 having an inlet end 132 disposed adjacent the right end frame 26 when the washer is in washing position and when the door 28 is in its closed position. The conduit 132 extends laterally along the upper surface of the door 28 to a point centrally located on the door surface where there is provided a port 134 leading to the interior of the door. Port I34 leads to a fluid supply manifold I36 defined between the lower wall 72 of the door 28 and an upper wall 138. Fluid entering from the conduit and port 138 is channeled in two directions by means of a guide rim M0 surrounding a series of first perforations 142. The rim M0 assures that when an intermediate amount of fluid is provided to the washer, it is evenly spread across the width of the casing 22. In the event that flow increases above that which can be accommodated by the first perforations M2, the overflow from the rim M0 is admitted to the casing through additional perforations 1414.

In order to selectively and releasably establish intercommunication between the inlet fitting I28 mounted on the end frame 26 and the inlet end 132 of the fluid supply conduit 130, there is provided a releasable connection generally designated as M6. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the inlet fitting 128 communicates by way ofa flexible conduit M8 disposed within end frame 26 with a movable fitting which may preferably comprise a single one-piece casting or the like. Fitting 150 is normally maintained in the position shown in FIG. 8 wherein it is spaced from the inlet end 132 of conduit 138 by means of a plurality of springs 152. A pneumatically expandible actuator 154 is pressurized when it is desired to establish fluid communication and serves to force the movable fitting 150 into fluid transfer engagement with the inlet 132 of the conduit 138.

In the course of washing operations with the washer 20, it may be desirable for the operator to manually add some materials to the laundry load. In order to make this possible, the door 28 is provided with spaced openings 156 associated respectively with each of the two compartments of the inner washing cylinder. With reference again to FIGS. 8 and 10, each opening 1156 extends through the offset bottom wall 72 of the door 28. In order to prevent splashing during washing operations, a splash shield rim 158 extends around the upper portion of each opening 156.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the novel fluid discharge system 341 for removing washing liquids from the casing 22. In accordance with the invention there is provided a simplified and troublefree arrangement of conduits and chutes for the discharge of fluids without obstructing the region beneath the casing 22, leaving this region available for the unloading of laundry.

In conjunction with each washing section of the cylinder 44, there is provided a discharge valve assembly generally designated as 170. Thus in the illustrated arrangement, there are two discharge valve assemblies 178. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the assemblies are located so as to be disposed substantially at the bottom of the casing 22 in the washing position of the washer.

The construction of one of the assemblies 170 can best be seen in FIG. 9. The side wall 36 of the casing 22 is provided with a discharge opening 17-2 over which is secured a housing 174 enclosing a generally circular valve seat 1176. A cooperating generally circular valve member 178 including a generally circular sealing gasket 1186) is movable to an open position illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the interior of the casing 22 communicates through the valve seat 176 with a discharge chamber 182 in the housing 1174. Alternatively, the valve member 1178 can be moved to a closed position wherein the sealing member 180 firmly engages the valve seat 176 to seal off the interior of the casing.

In order to assure reliable seating of the valve member 178 against the seat 176, there is provided an actuator 184 in the form of a pneumatic cylinder adapted to receive pressurized air through a conduit 186. A piston 188 movable within the cylinder is coupled to the valve member by means of a universal ball and socket connection 190 disposed substantially in the center of the circular valve member 178. This arrangement renders unnecessary the provision of any further means for aligning the valve member with the valve seat or for assuring that the valve member is maintained parallel with the valve seat. Thus there is provided an exceedingly simple valve structure capable of seating itself reliably against the valve seat to provide adequate sealing at all times.

In accordance with the invention, fluid discharged into the housing 174 of the discharge valve assembly 170 is carried off transversely to the sides of the washer 20 well away from the unloading region under the cylinder 22. More specifically, each housing 174 communicates with a lateral discharge conduit 192 extending from the corresponding valve assembly toward one of the end frames 24 and 26. Each conduit 192 is attached to the wall 36 of the casing 22 and accordingly is carried thereby.

Fluid discharged through the conduits 192 is expelled through downspout segments 194 into fixed discharge chutes 196 carried by the end frames 24 and 26. As shown in FIG. 3, if desired the chutes 196 may be located directly over floor gutters or the like for carrying away discharged fluids. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the fluid discharge system 34 involves very little obstruction of the unloading area beneath the washer 20.

In the operation of the washer 20 of the present invention, the components of the washer are first arranged in the position shown in FIG. in order to permit loading of laundry into the casing 22. More specifically, the casing 22 and the cylinder 24 are arranged so that their door openings 52 and 54 are aligned with one another and are disposed at the top of the casing 22. This may be accomplished either manually or through the use of suitable automatic control equipment. The casing door 28 is placed in its open position, and the cylinder doors 56 are moved to their open positions. Laundry is then inserted into the cylinder 44 from above by means of suitable laundry conveying apparatus or the like.

Once the machine has been loaded, the cylinder doors 56 are closed, and the door operating structure is actuated to move the casing door 28 to its closed position. More specifically, power member 94 is operated to slide the carriage 78 forward over the casing 22. Power member 96 is then released to permit the door 28 to drop into its closed position against the rim 74 of the casing 22.

In order to introduce washing fluids to the interior of the casing 22, the releasable connection 146 is operated to move the movable fitting 150 into engagement with the inlet end 132 of the fluid supply conduit 130. A suitable mixture or mixtures of washing fluids is then channeled through the fluid supply system 32 and through the fluid supply conduit 130 associated with the door 28. The casing 22 is maintained in a stationary position illustrated in FIG. 6 throughout the washing operation. However, the cylinder 44 is rotated independently as required to carry out a washing operation.

During and at the end of the washing operation, fluids are removed from the casing 22 through the fluid discharge system 34 of the present invention. When it is desired to remove fluids, the actuators 184 of the discharge valve assemblies are operated to permit movement of each valve member away from its seat 176. Discharged fluids travel through the housings 174 to the lateral discharge conduits 192 and then to the discharge chutes 196.

Upon completion ofa washing operation, the laundry load is unloaded from the casing 22. This is accomplished by operating the door opening structure 30 to move the door to its open position spaced from the casing 22. After alignment of the cylinder 44 and casing 22, the cylinder doors 56 are opened. The casing 22 and cylinder 44 are then rotated together to the position shown in FIG. 7 to discharge the laundry load downwardly from the machine. Since the region beneath the casing 22 is not obstructed, laundry carts or other suitable laundry receiving apparatus may readily be placed to receive the laundry load.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of the illustrated embodiment, it should be understood that such details are not intended to limit the invention which is defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A commercial laundry apparatus comprising a pair of spaced end frames, 21 generally cylindrical casing mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis between said frames, a door opening in said casing rotatable to the top of said casing, slide means on said end frames extending from a region above said casing to a region laterally spaced from said casing, a door cooperable with said door opening, and means mounting said door on said slide means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, first power means coupled between at least one of said end frames and said door for sliding said door between a first position above said casing and a second position laterally spaced from said casing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said mounting means permitting generally vertical movement of said door above said casing into and out of engagement with said casing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, second power means coupled between said mounting means and said door for moving said door into and out of engagement with said casing.

5. A commercial laundry machine comprising a pair of spaced end frames, 'a generally cylindrical casing mounted for movement relative to said end frames between operating and unloading positions, a cylinder mounted for rotation within said casing, a door opening in said casing located adjacent the top of said casing in the operating position of said casing, a slide member carried by each end frame extending from a region above said casing to a region laterally spaced from said casing, a carriage member slidably movable on said slide members, a door cooperable with said door opening, and means suspending said door from said carriage member.

6. The machine of claim 5, said suspending means including a fluid cylinder and piston connected between w rollers received in said channels.

9. The machine of claim 7, said power means comprising a lever connected between one slide member and said carriage member, and an additional fluid cylinder and piston coupled between said lever and one end frame. 

1. A commercial laundry apparatus comprising a pair of spaced end frames, a generally cylindrical casing mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis between said frames, a door opening in said casing rotatable to the top of said casing, slide means on said end frames extending from a region above said casing to a region laterally spaced from said casing, a door cooperable with said door opening, and means mounting said door on said slide means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, first power means coupled between at least one of said end frames and said door for sliding said door between a first position above said casing and a second position laterally spaced from said casing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, said mounting means permitting generally vertical movement of said door above said casing into and out of engagement with said casing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, second power means coupled between said mounting means and said door for moving said door into and out of engagement with said casing.
 5. A commercial laundry machine comprising a pair of spaced end frames, a gEnerally cylindrical casing mounted for movement relative to said end frames between operating and unloading positions, a cylinder mounted for rotation within said casing, a door opening in said casing located adjacent the top of said casing in the operating position of said casing, a slide member carried by each end frame extending from a region above said casing to a region laterally spaced from said casing, a carriage member slidably movable on said slide members, a door cooperable with said door opening, and means suspending said door from said carriage member.
 6. The machine of claim 5, said suspending means including a fluid cylinder and piston connected between said carriage member and said door for raising and lowering said door relative to said casing.
 7. The machine of claim 6 further comprising power means coupled between said carriage member and at least one said end frame for sliding said carriage member and door along said slide members.
 8. The machine of claim 7, said slide members comprising channels, and said carriage member including rollers received in said channels.
 9. The machine of claim 7, said power means comprising a lever connected between one slide member and said carriage member, and an additional fluid cylinder and piston coupled between said lever and one end frame. 